Not sure if this is common, but when trying to start my 2000 ds650 in the winter it takes me forever. I eventually have to spray starter fluid on the filter and sometimes even remove the intake hose and spray fluid in there. Could there be something mechanically wrong causing this problem or are they just a biatch to start in cold weather?

 

I have a 2001 and it is the same. I even installed a 2004 rectifer and no difference.
I have to either start the machine every 4 days or put a 2 amp charger on it for 1/2 hour before I use it.
Then it always starts good. Wait an extra few days and no luck.
Even though the motor spins well, the battery needs to be near full charge to get something in the electical system
to send voltage to the ignition system.

My son has a new 2005 and it starts great all the time.
I wish someone out there would give us the information needed to cure this problem.

 

My 2000 is finicky, too. It wants to start, but quits right away and I have to keep doing that. Even at full choke. Yea, I live in AZ and 60 to us is cold. I'm also talking higher elevation which is part of the problem, too. Throw away that can of starting fluid or you'll have another thread: "why did my head gasket blow".

 

my 04 ds650 starts no matter what it can be like -20c and it still starts

 

mine too starts on the button every time. Wouldnt take throttle for a few minutes when on the choke(stock carb) but thats normal enough

i have started it when the ice is lying on it, how cold are you talking about?

 

J.J.
the stock pilot in a 2000 is 37.5 you need to put a 45 in it will help HUGE!! I needed to do it. also you might want to consider a up to date slide return spring, the 2000 is weak. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

 

from my experiance having valves too tight ie. out of adjustment, made my bike hard to start, I adjusted them and it would start much easier. One other thing I do( when it is real cold out) is push the start button and let the cylinder cycle 2-3 times to draw fuel in and then hit the ignition switch usually fires right up, this is a 2000 stock bike on pump gas, my methanol DS usualy takes doing this process 3 times to get it to fire when it's freezing.

 

the only way to start a cold ds (i know from the hard way ice racing at -10 below) you have to put you'r hand over mouth of carb to start. for the guys with stock air box's pull the the tube off between air box and carb hold hand completely over mouth of carb crank over (will try to suck you'r hand in some) if you'r batt will turn it over it will start. guys with direct mount filters just pop it off and do the same. the valve adjust thing made no difference on any of mine for cold weather starting. todays carbs don't have a choke they have an enrichener that just won't cut it in the real cold, so one good suck of fuel (with you'r hand over mouth) does a ds good!!